Mattapoisett Library Seed Exchange

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The Mattapoisett Library is excited to announce the return of our well-loved Seed Library Program! As the days get longer and the snow melts away, it’s the perfect time for local gardeners and nature enthusiasts to prepare for spring planting. Whether you’re starting a brand-new garden or looking to expand your collection, our Seed Library is restocked and ready for you.

            This season, we’re offering a hearty selection of staples such as herbs, beets, tomatoes, kale, peas, and corn. We also have flowers to enhance any landscape! Supplies are limited. Please take only what you need so we have plenty for everyone.

            Seeds do not need to be returned. However, we encourage patrons to bring in any seeds they’ve collected or no longer need when they come by to check out new ones. And while you’re here, visit our Library of Things for all the tools and kits you need to dig in and grow your garden, including Soil Testing Kits, Soil Block Kits, Tillers, and more!

            The Seed Library is free and open to everyone, regardless of gardening experience. Patrons only need an active SAILS library card to participate!

            Don’t have a library card yet? No worries! Just bring your ID, and you can sign up for one when you visit to browse our seed selection. Library cards are free and provide access to resources offered at the MFPL and surrounding SAILS libraries.

            Come by 7 Barstow Street in Mattapoisett and borrow what you need to start your garden today! For more information, visit the library, email mfpl@sailsinc.org, or call us at 508-758-4171.

Preparation Serves Bulldogs Well

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The Old Rochester Regional High School girls basketball team hosted Arlington Catholic on February 27 in the first round of the MIAA Division 3 state tournament. Entering the game, the 13th-seeded Bulldogs (15-6) wanted to make sure they were ready, as they had lost in the opening round last year. But this time they took care of business, winning 72-60.

“The girls have done a tremendous job of preparing. We wanted to come in with an aggressive mentality and run offense, play really good defense, and not turn the ball over,” said ORR Head Coach Rick Regan.

Old Rochester did just that.

Halfway through the first quarter, the Bulldogs jumped to an 8-2 lead with multiple buckets in the paint. It was back and forth through the rest of the quarter, with ORR on top 19-14 by the end of it. The Bulldogs were up 27-18 at 4:20 seconds left in the half, but 20th-seeded Arlington (10-13) was not backing down. The Cougars went on a 10-0 run to end the half with a 1-point lead.

Old Rochester made some changes at halftime and started the third quarter hot with an 8-0 run. The Bulldogs were shooting the three at an unreal rate in the third, and it ultimately gave them a lead of 48-41 going into the fourth quarter. It was a big momentum boost from the second quarter.

“We switched up a little bit on defense. We went diamond and 1 on number five (Nora Simpson) to take her out (of the offense) a little bit,” said Regan. “(Simpson) got really hot at the end of the first half. We thought that (strategy) kind of changed the game a little bit, and it got us moving offensively because then we could get in transition.”

Old Rochester shot 52% from three this game, making 12 shots from beyond the arc.

            “The focus is to move the basketball, and if the three is open, we take it. But we love getting the ball inside, especially with Hannah Thorell and Emma Johnson. But when we have shooters that are hot, we love to get them.”  

The Bulldogs were an underdog in Tuesday night’s Round of 16 game at fourth-seeded Medway (16-5).

Caroline Brogioli scored six 3-pointers last game against New Bedford, and Emerson Gonet scored six against Arlington Catholic, both tying the school record for threes made in a game. Johnson had 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. Brogioli had 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists, as Emerson had 18 points, all off of three-pointers.

ORR Boys Basketball

            The Bulldogs faced Tantasqua Regional in the Division 3 state tournament on February 28 and won, 58-47. Gavin Martin had a great game, scoring 25 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and had 8 steals on the defensive end. Brody Hiles and Grady Oliveira each had 10 points, and Hunter Horsey had 9. Old Rochester was down 29-23 at halftime but outscored Number 13 Tantasqua by 17 points in the second half to bring home the victory. The 20th-seeded Bulldogs took a 12-9 record into Wednesday’s Round of 16 home game against Norton in the round of 16. Norton, seeded 36th, won two tournament games on the road by a total of three points to reach the Round of 16, most recently upsetting fourth-seeded Shawsheen Valley Tech (18-3). For those who see this article on March 5 at wanderer.com, the ORR-Norton game tips off at 6:00 pm.

 Old Colony Boys Basketball

            The Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School boys basketball team has done it again, traveling far from Rochester to win its opening game in the Division 5 state tournament. The 17th-seeded Cougars handed 16th seeded Notre Dame Cristo Rey of Methuen its second loss of the season in a 67-59 decision that gave Old Colony its 21st win against 2 losses. The Round of 16 task was more daunting, as the Cougars traveled 128 miles to Northfield on Tuesday to take on top-seeded Pioneer Valley (21-0), which won its opening-round game by 50 points.

Sports Roundup

By Aiden Comorosky

MS4 Bylaw A Point of Contention

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            The Marion Select Board met on Tuesday to tackle various action items at a time when local focus begins to draw towards the Annual Town Meeting, the Town Election, and the FY26 budget.

            Present in the audience was Planning Board Chairman Andrew Daniel. The board also welcomed Kaylan Valadao, the town’s new treasurer/collector, to her first Select Board meeting. Following the approval of minutes and the approval of various bonds, some stretching to 2045, the board looked on to other items.

            The Select Board unanimously approved early voting by mail as well as in-person early voting for local elections. Voting begins Wednesday, May 7, and ends Wednesday, May 14, during regular business hours. It was said that more information can be found on the town clerk’s webpage at marionma.gov.

            The next item was a review of potential Town Meeting Warrant articles. There was no voting being done on these, but Town Administrator Geoff Gorman presented them with the floor being open for questions and comments. The Select Board must approve said articles for inclusion in the warrant and make recommendations during their April 1 meeting.

            Members from the Historic District Study Committee spoke on the proposed Historic District Bylaw. There were two members of the committee present to clarify features of the bill as well as disagreements over the effects the bill will have on property values and the desire of some to have an “opt-out” of the district. A committee member said, “just because a design meets a zoning law or obtains a zoning variance, doesn’t mean it fits well in a historic neighborhood.” The committee stressed that studies show housing value rises, rather than diminishes.

            Following the committee’s time, resident Joe Vergoni of 62 Pleasant Street aired his concerns. He emphasized potential negatives of increasing town bureaucracy, saying, “I feel another level of bureaucracy as a homeowner in Marion, Mass., will be costly and restrictive and is unnecessary.” Vergoni said homeowners should go through existing channels, rather than that of another created body. Committee members stressed the district exists to protect the town’s current nature and to not allow for “anyone to come in and do whatever they want.”

            Select Board member Toby Burr told committee members the Select Board would not advance the bylaw to Town Meeting unless certain buildings are excluded, such as the Cushing Community Center.

            Next was discussion on the construction of the new Department of Public Works (DPW) building. The Energy Management Committee requested funding for a roof-mounted solar array. The approximate cost of this addition would be approximately $96,000.

            Argument soon erupted between Select Board Chairman Norm Hills and Daniel due to the proposed MS4 bylaw similar to one blocked by the Planning Board. Hills said the bylaw is a “general bylaw,” though Daniel countered that it is a “zoning bylaw” and therefore must go through the Planning Board.

            Daniel said “because the first attempt failed in Planning, which would have been the proper steps to take. This is a way of circumventing the proper channels.” After further argument, Hills requested “we can discuss this someplace else at this point in time.” Select Board member Randy Parker agreed with Daniel, saying “they started on it, and it’s a slap in the face to pull it away from them.” This was the conclusion of the discussion on MS4.

            Daniel discussed the last meeting of the Planning Board the night prior and the extensive discussion on proposed short-term rental (STR) bylaw. He said the changes discussed at the meeting had been made and the new draft had been sent to Town Counsel, where they returned it with “minor changes, mostly wording.” Daniels said they had “piggybacked off what other towns had done and added a touch of Marion to it.”

            In his Town Administrator’s Report, Gorman thanked the Select Board, the Planning Board, and the locals who all visited and contributed to a successful open house at the new Maritime Center.

            Further talks on the DPW building’s construction saw Gorman say it was on time and on budget, adding the recent talks for the addition of an old-oil burner/recycler. This addition would allow town vehicles to recycle their oil, creating heat for the previously unheated segments of the build. This addition would cost around $48,000, per Gorman. Daniel, who works for the Town of Rochester as its facilities manager, added Rochester does things similarly and allows locals to also bring their own oil to recycle.

            Finally, the Select Board discussed spots for the informational prelude to the Annual Town Meeting. As the Music Hall is busy with meetings, the board said there is a possibility to hold the informational session in the Community Center.

            The next meeting of the Marion Select Board will be held on Tuesday, March 18, at 6:00 pm in the Marion Town House.

Marion Select Board

By Sam Bishop

Measles: do I Need a Booster?

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It may hard for younger people to accept this, but when I was in medical school, we talked casually of patients having had “the usual childhood diseases,” referring to measles, mumps, chicken pox and rubella (German measles).

            Measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads easily to others with near 100% transmission. While generally a flu-like illness with a rash from which children recover, about 5% of measles patients develop pneumonia, 1 in 1000 develop brain swelling with deafness and/or intellectual disability resulting and 3 per 1000 die.

            A vaccine to prevent measles was introduced in 1963 with dramatic results. Prior to 1963, nearly every child got measles by age 15. There were 3-4 million cases a year, with 48,000 hospitalizations and 500 deaths annually. This fell dramatically after the vaccine was available. Reported cases fell 97% between 1965 and 1968 and measles was declared “eliminated” in the U.S. in 2000.

            Unfortunately, this very success has led to complacency, and the disinformation by “anti-vaxxers” has contributed to a falling off of vaccination rates.

            Not surprisingly, measles has recurred. In 2024, the U.S. saw 16 outbreaks (3 or more cases) involving a total of 285 cases. As of the end of February, 2025 has seen 9 outbreaks, with a total of 164 cases. The best known is the Texas outbreak, but there have been others around the country. 95% of the cases involve people who were unvaccinated.

            Do you need to worry?

            If you were born before 1957, you almost certainly had measles, whether you remember this or not, and if you were born before 1963, you probably did. Natural infection gives virtually 100% life-long immunity, so there is no need to get a booster.

            If you were vaccinated between 1963 and 1968, you may have received a less-effective vaccine and may want to have your antibody levels checked with a blood test.

            If you received two doses of the standard MMR (measles/mumps/rubella), you are 97%+ protected unless you have an immune deficiency.

            So, for most of us, protected by childhood infection or vaccination, no worries. For our children and grandchildren: GET VACCINATED. The MMR does NOT cause autism, and there have been no deaths from the vaccine in healthy people. Children with immune deficiency, a very rare condition, cannot get the vaccine, and depend on the other 99% of us preventing outbreaks by getting vaccinated.

            Edward Hoffer MD is Associate Professor of Medicine, part-time, at Harvard.

What Does The Doctor Say?

By Dr. Edward Hoffer

Rochester Republican Town Committee

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The Rochester Republican Town Committee will hold its next meeting on Monday. March 10 at 6:30 pm, at the Ponderosa Sportsman’s Club, located at 242 Robinson Rd, Acushnet. Rochester’s Town Administrator, Cameron Durant, will be the guest speaker. All are invited to attend. Come, bring a friend, and meet Rochester’s new Town Administrator.

ORR Senior Michael Hogan Bowls a Perfect Game

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Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55 Superintendent Michael S. Nelson and Principal Michael Devoll are proud to share that senior Michael Hogan, a Special Olympics athlete, recently bowled a perfect game.

            Michael Hogan, 18, of Mattapoisett, achieved a perfect score of 300 in a game of bowling at Wonder Bowl in New Bedford on February 18 during school vacation. He rolled 12 consecutive strikes, a feat few bowlers accomplish, while his father, Jim Hogan, cheered him on and captured the final moments on video.

            “To bowl a perfect game is pretty difficult for anybody, anywhere,” said Jim Hogan. “Michael has been working toward this goal ever since he started bowling. He’s a perfectionist — he always strives to be the best at whatever he does. Given that, reaching perfection in this way was extraordinary for him.”

            Michael, who has autism, is a self-taught bowler, learning primarily by watching YouTube videos. He originally bowled one-handed but switched to a two-handed style after watching Australian professional bowler Jason Belmonte. Over the years, he has refined his technique, improving his average consistently while regularly competing in Special Olympics tournaments.

            “He enjoys bowling because it’s something he can do on his own,” Jim Hogan said. “He plays other sports like basketball, softball, and soccer, but in bowling, you’re really competing against yourself. He likes that aspect of it.”

            Michael said the final frame of his perfect game was nerve-wracking. But he cleared his mind and concentrated solely on “calibrating” his shot.

            “I was nervous a little bit. I had to take a deep breath,” Michael said. “It wasn’t easy at all. But I did it. After I did it, I had a lot of enthusiasm. I was very happy.”

            Michael’s dedication to the sport has made him a standout in Special Olympics Massachusetts bowling competitions. During each of the past three years, his father said, Michael recorded the highest bowling scores of any participant in the Special Olympics state tournament, regardless of age group.

            Beyond bowling, Michael is a well-rounded athlete and student at Old Rochester Regional High School, where he is enrolled in the Life Skills Program. He is also a key player on the school’s Unified Basketball Team and is known for his impressive three-point shooting — once he nailed 17 3-pointers in a row.

            Danielle Dore, a special education teacher at ORR who has worked with Michael since ninth grade, praised his hard work and determination.

            “Whether you stop by a class he’s in or see him in after-school activities — from strength and conditioning to basketball — he’s always putting in the work it takes to be successful,” said Dore. “Since he came to ORR you could see how passionate he is as a student athlete. Michael is always holding himself to the highest standards, and there’s nothing he can’t accomplish — including bowling a perfect game. We are so proud.”

            Michael has also served as a role model to younger students in the district, often sharing his knowledge with peers during school bowling outings. He even created an instructional video for an elementary school teacher’s bowling unit, offering tips and tricks to inspire younger athletes.

            “The teacher showed that video to his students, and they were so impressed,” Dore said. “Michael is a true role model.”

            Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Jaime Curley commended Michael, highlighting the positive impact he has on the school community.

            “Michael’s dedication and passion are inspiring,” said Assistant Superintendent Curley. “This achievement is an example of the power of perseverance and the importance of setting personal goals. At Old Rochester Regional, we strive to foster an environment where all students can pursue their passions and reach their full potential.”

            Principal Devoll complimented Michael for his dedication and hard work, congratulating him on this special achievement.

            “At Old Rochester Regional, we take great pride in seeing our students push their limits, set ambitious goals, and work tirelessly to achieve them,” said Principal Devoll. “Michael’s accomplishment is inspirational. It’s a demonstration of the power of persistence and hard work.”

            Superintendent Nelson congratulated him on the perfect game:

            “This is a great moment for Michael, and we couldn’t be happier for him,” said Superintendent Nelson. “His achievement exemplifies the determination and passion we see in students across our district, whether in academics, athletics, or personal pursuits. We celebrate Michael’s success and look forward to seeing his continued success here at Old Rochester Regional and beyond.”

Academic Achievements

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Katherine Solowey, Mattapoisett, has been named to the Dean’s List at Hamilton College for the fall 2024 semester.

Failenn Fitzpatrick of Marion, class of 2027, and Joel Michaud of Mattapoisett, class of 2025 were named to the College of the Holy Cross’ Dean’s List for outstanding academic achievement during the Fall semester of the 2024-25 academic year.

FY26 DPW Planning

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            The Marion Finance Committee met on February 26 for a discussion with Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Jody Dickerson and held further talks regarding the Draft Fiscal Year 2026 Budget.

            Dickerson and the committee spoke on Waste Management’s contract expiring on December 31, 2025. He mentioned the increase of fees to people disposing due increases in contract cost. He said “you’ll see an increase of 10.96%” when referring to total cost of next year’s contract.

            For parks and field maintenance, Dickerson said there is a 30% increase in costs from New Leaf. Moving on to utilities, he said, “everybody knows how utility prices have increased, especially in the last few months.” An average rise of 2% across all utilities was cited.

            Gas expenses were down with electricity and water up. It was said the Wastewater Treatment Plant uses a lot of electricity, and most of Marion’s used water was said to come from Rochester. Overall, the DPW’s increase from FY25 to FY26 is approximately 2.35%.

            In general, there is a 3.63% increase in full-time wages, a 10.71% increase in longevity pay, and a 7.5% increase in uniform allowances for the Sewer Enterprise Fund.

            The next meeting of the Marion Finance Committee was to be held on Wednesday at the Marion Town House Conference Room where the committee planned to further tackle FY26 budget plans.

Marion Finance Committee

By Sam Bishop

SEMASS Water Main Improvements

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Rochester’s Conservation Commission on Tuesday granted a Negative Determination that wetlands bylaw restrictions do not apply to a proposed large-scale water main improvement project by SEMASS at 141 Cranberry Highway.

            The project’s environmental scientist Hailey Page explained that the plant’s main pipe for the employees’ water use failed in December of 2023. It is being replaced by a 550-linear-foot, three-inch wide water main being dug six-foot deep close to where there is a 25-foot no-disturb zone at wetlands. The project will begin in 2026 provided all permitting and funding has been secured, Page said. The commission’s approval vote included the condition that all erosion controls detailed on the plan will be followed.

            The remainder of the agenda ended in continuances to the next meeting. The commission continued until March 18 its Notice of Intent (NOI) hearing on converting a wetlands swamp at 224 North Avenue into a wildlife and aquatic habitat, agricultural drainage area and fire emergency pond. The applicant, farmer Cody Wood, argued he does not need an NOI or a conservation plan because of the way regulations read on the matter and an opinion from the DEP. Commission chair Christopher Gerrior said he and his board will need to see for themselves the DEP correspondence and the “workflow” of Wood’s argument against needing ConCom permissions. “It’s on you to prove your case,” Gerrior said.

            The commission agreed to schedule site visits on High Street when it continued until March 18 its hearings on four separate Notices of Intent allowing the construction of single-family dwellings on two-acre lots there. These are lots close to cranberry bogs that since early November have drawn the attention of abutters who have raised concerns about its possible effect on flooding and natural resources in their neighborhood.

            Discussion of “Lot 12” of this project led the board to also motion that the developer pays for an independent engineer to measure the top of the septic tank proposed on the plan. This vote came after abutter Andrew Roth cast doubt on the accuracy of the measurements on that lot’s plan. “My concern is that some of these lot lines are razor thin,” Roth said.
Jim Morse, the engineer for another abutter, Jeremy Sassone, lodged a similar complaint that plan measurements may not be accurate. Sassone had previously complained his property near County Road frequently floods because of the bog and will flood even more when a house lot is built so close to him.

            The next Conservation Commission meeting will be March 18 at 7:00 pm, at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.

Rochester Conservation Commission

By Michael J. DeCicco

Hello from Plumb Library

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The Library is pleased to announce some upcoming events for adults.

            Alfred Saulniers, author of “The French of New Bedford, the Early Years” will be giving a presentation on his new book from Spinner Publications at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday March 15. The event will be held in our Downstair Program Room. Space is limited, so please register on the events calendar at www.plumblibrary.com.

            At 12:30 p.m. on Saturday March 29 presenter Marty Gitlin will be here getting us ready for Boston Red Sox Opening Day with his “Ultimate Presentation for Red Sox Nation” talk. Join us for a fun hour of facts, trivia, history, and all things baseball. This event will be held in our Downstairs Program Room and space is limited. Please register on the events calendar at www.plumblibrary.com.

            Every Monday in March our Knitting Group will be meeting from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm for a social gathering of handcrafters. Bring your latest project, sit, chat, and relax.

            The Writer’s Group will meet at 6:30 pm Thursday, March 20. Anyone who is interested in creative writing is welcome to attend. Writing prompts are presented, 10 minutes of writing time given, then share with the group what you came up with. No pressure, no critique, just for fun. Refreshments are served. This is an 18+ program.

            Don’t forget about our book clubs. The COA Group will meet at 1:00 pm Tuesday, March 18 to discuss “One Hell of a Book” by Jason Mott and Books and Babble will meet at 6:30 pm Thursday, March 27 to discuss “The Lobster Chronicles” by Linda Greenlaw. New members are always welcome.

            If you’re interested in volunteer opportunities, consider joining the Friends of Plumb Library. They are meeting Thursday, March 6 at 6:00 pm to discuss the upcoming spring book sale and clothing drive.

            Please remember that library cards are required for checkout. If you have lost your card, it can be replaced for a $2.00 charge. Always have your card with you by loading it into the SAILS Mobile app. It’s quick and easy and we’re happy to show you how it works.

            Library hours are: Mondays/Thursdays 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm; Tuesdays/Wednesdays 10:00 am- to 6:00 pm; Fridays 10:00 am to 5:00 pm; Saturdays 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. We are closed on Sundays and Holidays. The Library can be contacted by phone at 508-763-8600 or email at info@plumblibrary.com.